DU rejects CBSE’s request to review decision over marks deduction

New Delhi: Delhi University has rejected CBSE's request to review its decision to deduct 2.5 percent from the aggregate marks of those aspirants of the four-year under graduate course who had opted for Informatics Practices as an elective subject in their class XII exams.

A top Delhi University official said it would not be possible to revise guidelines in the middle of the admission process and any review in the matter may be considered next year.

"It will not be possible to review the admission guidelines as we are in the middle of the enrolment process for the under-graduate courses," the official said.

Taking strong exception to the DU guidelines for admission into undergraduate programme, the Central Board of Secondary Education last week had sought review of the decision and accord same advantage to those who had opted for Informatics Practices.

The CBSE had termed the university's decision as "unfair" and "discriminatory".

In its admission guidelines, the DU has said the students who had chosen Informatics Practices in class XII tend to lose 2.5 per cent from the percentage aggregate marks for admission into FYUP. In a letter to DU Vice Chancellor Dinesh Singh, CBSE Chairman Vineet Joshi had asked the university to review the decision saying a large number of students will be at disadvantageous position in the admission process as they have become aware of the decision at a very "late stage".

Joshi had said CBSE treats all the courses of computer stream such as Computer Science and Informatics Practices on a par with elective subjects.

"In this regard, CBSE would like to express its concern that it would be really unfair, unjustified and discriminatory for students who have studied Informatics Practices instead of Computer Science to be put at a disadvantage by reducing 2.5 percent marks from the percentage aggregate marks," Joshi said.

However, the Delhi University official said changing the guidelines may impact large number of students.

Seeking review of the decision by the University, the CBSE chairman had also suggested that a team of experts may be asked to examine contents of both the courses.

"In absence of any discrimination by the CBSE between these courses, it is imperative that the course contents may kindly be examined by a team of experts and both the courses may please be treated at par so that students who have studied Informatics Practices are not discriminated against at the time of admission," he said.

Joshi mentioned that such a rule did not exist when the students chose the subject. "Academically and administratively, this seems like a gross injustice."